RADIO MISCELLANEA -- March 1998

From Antique Radio Classified for March 1998(Copyright 1996-8 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

"Antique Radio Classified" invites its readers to contribute letters and information for inclusion in "Radio Miscellanea" and elsewhere in the magazine. "In The Marketplace" is based on information submitted by the businesses themselves. All topics should be of general interest and sent to A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. All material submitted should be verified for accuracy and may be edited for publication, which is not guaranteed. See the masthead for more details.

Thanks From a Non-SubscriberDear Editor,

Thank you so much for responding to my son's request for information on the two old radios we have. They (an Aeriola Sr. and a Radiola RC) have been kicking around for probably 50 years and have made 17 moves all over the country. I'm not sure that I'm ready to let them go, but thought that I'd check out the market.

Also, thank you for the free copy of your magazine. I was unaware that so many clubs and collectors existed. In the early 1920s, my dad sold a few radio sets to farm families in North Central Kansas to earn some money to go to college.

--Dan E. Huston, Sequim, WA

Each month, we receive a number of inquiries, like the one described above. These inquiries are the result of our advertising in over a dozen magazines and on our Web site, as well as the occasional mention of A.R.C. in magazine and newspaper articles. We respond to these inquiries from non-collectors with a free sample copy and, if possible, an answer to their questions. This is one of the many services A.R.C. performs. The result often is a piece of history being offered to an A.R.C. subscriber, rather than to the local antique dealer or the town dump. (Editor)

Thanks From a SubscriberDear Editor:

I have received a good response to my free ads during the past year, and I appreciate the trust and honesty shown by the parties involved. Thanks!

--Leroy Neal, Dyersburg, TN

Capacitor Article KudosDear Editor:

Just a note to thank you for your exceptionally lucid treatise on capacitors. I've posted Part 1 from December's A.R.C. above the service bench. It summarizes what I know already -- or ought to know -- but would have to source from a dozen texts to prove.

Ray Bintliff's kind of submission is what makes A.R.C. very worthwhile. I'm looking forward to Part 2.

--Kent Waterman, Oakland, CA

Dear Editor:

Good articles on various aspects of radio appear in every issue of A.R.C., and I can't give all the authors a pat on the back. I just read and learn something from them. Every once in a while one pops up that's outstanding, and I have to give a "thank you" for it. I just finished reading Ray Bintliff's Part 1 of the capacitor article in the December issue. Very well done and informative, and easily understandable to a self-taught and non-high tech collector like me. I'm looking forward to Part 2.

--Jerry Larsen, Elmwood Park, IL

On New Communications Technology

Ads on the Internet!Dear Editor:

Have you any plans to put the whole magazine on the internet with a charge for access? This would seem to be a solution whereby everyone would have access to the ads at the same time, rather than some getting it in 24 hours and others waiting a week or two. I'm sure you get mail like this every day, but it really is frustrating to know that other people have the ads days ahead.

Apart from that, A.R.C. is a great publication, and I look forward to receiving it each month.

--Roger Hart, Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada

Yes, we do receive a number of complaints on the time it takes for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver A.R.C., and yes, the Internet as a delivery option is a frequent suggestion. However, the "everyone" who, in your comment,"would have access to the ads at the same time" would be those who have Internet access -- currently about 20 percent of our subscribers. But, after all, we do offer a delivery option to about 25 percent of our subscribers -- those who choose First Class Mail delivery. So, a precedent exists.

Access to the Internet is growing as more and more individuals purchase home computers, gain web access through their TVs, and take advantage of free access to the Internet at public libraries.

As we stated in our January "Editor's Comments," we continue to consider ways to embrace the new communications technologies fairly. (Editor)

Keep the Hard Copy!Dear Editor:

First, I'd like to commend you and your staff for the fine job done on A.R.C. I've been a subscriber for about five years and look forward to its monthly arrival. I noticed in your Editors Comments column that you would like our thoughts on embracing new communications technologies. You have many options, but the one thing you cannot do is put the entire contents of A.R.C. on line in the current month. While the speed of receiving this information would be nice, it would be the deathknell of the hard copy.

Please understand how handy it is to slip A.R.C. under your arm or in a pocket and read it where computers just aren't practical. I don't relish the idea of trying to make my five children understand why Dad needs the computer and the phone line on that special night of the month.

Well, that's enough from me. Use your best judgement and keep up the good work.

--Jeff Arndt, Manitowoc, WI

I expect that if we ever do offer Internet access, it will be for subscribers only, and they will continue to receive the hard copy as well. (Editor)

More on MinervaDear Editor:

I enjoyed Alan Douglas' article on the Minerva Midget and perhaps can add to the accumulated information. In early 1929, Minerva radios were advertised as products of the Miller-Welles Co., Inc, 14-20 West Kenzie St. in Chicago. Additonally, the company was seeking agents for Minerva sets and for Marwood dynamic speakers. Could it be that the West Kenzie St. address was that of the "mystery" factory?

Morgan McMahon's book, Radio Collector's Guide -- 1921-1932, lists Minerva sets in the 1925 through 1930 section, and more in the 1931-1932 section. The later listing includes three 4-tube models. The first has a tube complement of (2) 36, (1) 37, (1) 38 tubes and the second has the National Union (NU) tubes (2) 64, (1) 68, (1) 67. The third 4-tube model has a significantly different tube lineup: (3) 36 and (1) 41. It is likely that the second listing is that of the AC-DC set under discussion.

Mr. Douglas lists a Minerva Co. at 10 North Clark St. in Chicago. It seems unlikely that more than one Minerva manufacturing company could have been in business in the Chicago area in a span of seven years. Possibly, the company either moved at least once or perhaps had separate sales and manufacturing addresses. Either the Minerva line or the brand name might have been sold to a different manufacturer -- also a possible explanation of the different addresses.

There doesn't seem to be any connection between these early Minerva sets and those of the later Minerva Corporation of America. Perhaps other readers of A.R.C. will be able to add to the accumulated information on this first Minerva brand.

--Dale Davenport, Fort Smith, AR

February Photo Review IDsDear Editor:

In the February 1998 Photo Review, Chuck Regan requested information about his Everbest Model TW 56H radio. This is a 1947 or 1948 Crosley Model 58TL (see Howard Sams' Radios of the Baby Boom Era, Vol. 2) or a 57TL (see Bunis, Vol. 4), which I have. Hope this helps.

--Thomas Stockton, Waco, TX

Dear Editor:

In the February 1998 Photo Review, W.R. Cobb asked for the model number for his unusual Sparton push-button, tombstone radio, which has neither dial nor tuning capacitor.

The set is a Model 738, and the schematic page from Riders, Volume IX, page 9-13, shows the push-button trimmer assembly, the chassis parts layout, the chassis-mounted Type 6E5 tuning eye used in setting up the push buttons, and the clock and switch assembly, which allows the radio to be turned on manually or automatically with the built-in timer.

--Rob Vanderwarker, Steilacoom, WA

Permeability Tuned TV BoostersDear Editor:

Just finished the article on permeability tuning in the February A.R.C. To clear up the "hazy" recollection of TV boosters, I have a Silvertone Cat. No. 6745 booster from the 1950s, which uses permeability tuning. It actually has separate tuning sections for channels 2-6 and channels 7-13. It uses two 6J5 tubes, and it still works after all these years.

--Richard Gleitz, York, PA

More on Crocker-WheelerDear Editor:

In reference to the article on the Crocker-Wheeler crystal set in the February issue, this company was a major manufacturer of heavy electrical equipment in the early part of the century. Industrial motors and generating equipment were its specialty, and its generators were used in many municipal and street railway power stations. I have no information about Crocker-Wheeler making radios, or any other consumer-oriented products for that matter, so I would suspect that the crystal set may have been built by someone else, perhaps Adams-Morgan, as Dave Crocker suggests. Perhaps it was simply an ill-fated experiment to broaden the company's product line.

--Steve Baron, Lexington, KY

Dear Editor:

I saw the article on the Crocker-Wheeler crystal set in the February issue, and the name "Crocker-Wheeler" sounded very familiar. In the early days of wireless radio, Crocker-Wheeler Co. manufactured motor generators to power the wireless transmitters on many ships of those days. I wonder if Dave Crocker's crystal set was made by this company, as its vintage appears to be of the same age. Perhaps the set was part of a shipboard receiver in the early days.

--Harry Cap, Bridgewater, MA

More on Insuring Old RadiosDear Editor:

In reference to Ed Koment's inquiry in the February 1998 A.R.C. about insuring a radio collection, please be advised that Collectibles Insurance Agency, PO Box 1200, Westminster, MD 21558-0299 will insure radio collections along with other collectibles. Your quote on prices of less than 1 percent of the appraised value is in the ballpark, but this agency does not require an extensive inventory of the collection. The phone number is (410) 876-8833.

--Ray Chase, Plainfield, NJ

Dear Editor:

I saw the letter regarding insurance for a radio collection. An insurance company ad appears regularly in Classic Toy Trains, but it can be used for any type collection, including radios. The company is American Collectors Insurance, Inc., 385 Kings Hwy., PO Box 8343, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-0343. 1-800-360-2277.

--J. Philpot, South Holland, IL

More On the "Down Under" ArticleDear Editor:

Thank you for the kind words and professional layout of my piece on old radio in Australia. It has already sparked interest and some very convivial conversations via the Internet.

One thing I did not make clear: all the early Australian sets illustrating the article, except one, belong to my friend Ralph Kettle, who kindly gave up an afternoon to make the pictures possible. Anyone interested in knowing more about them, or seeing them on a visit to our national capital, can contact Ralph via the net at mkett@interact.net.au

Your magazine continues to delight, to inform, and especially to put faraway Australians in contact with as agreeable a bunch of blokes as it has been my pleasure to deal with.